She said she could not wait for Mbali to matriculate in 12
years time.

Textbooks delivered

In Midrand, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and Basic
Education Minister Angie Motshekga visited the Ponelopele Oracle Secondary
School for the first school day of 2014.

Motlanthe said the visit was intended to motivate teachers,
and congratulate them on a job well done, as the school was one of the top
performing schools despite being a no-fee school.

"[We] decided to come to this school to thank [the]
principal and teachers for the job they are putting in and to encourage
learners," he said.

Motshekga said it was all systems go for the new academic
year and that textbooks had been delivered, but that she had received word that
some schools in Limpopo and Mpumalanga had suffered storm damage.

"We are running around checking to ensure schools have
day one today," she said.

In the Free State, several Grade 1s were bracing themselves
for the start of their school career at Universitas Primary School in
Bloemfontein. Blue school suitcases with name tags were lined up in front of
classroom doors while parents chatted in groups, discussing the first day of
school.

School bell

Pupils were happily organising themselves ahead of their
classes, without being concerned about the formal arrangements of their
teachers.

As the school bell rang, pupils and parents moved to school
hall for a formal welcome.

Mangaung executive mayor Thabo Manyoni was also visiting
schools in Botshabelo to assess their state of readiness.

Northern Cape education spokesperson Sydney Stander said
that the province's MECs were deployed to several schools across the province.
Towards the end of the day they are expected to report on how smoothly the first
day of school went in their province.

In KwaZulu-Natal, there was heavy traffic around Escombe
Primary School in Queensburgh, near Durban, as the morning school rush reached
its height.

The school's parking lot was full and commuters on their way
to work had to battle traffic congestion.

Meanwhile in Soweto, there were tears and excitement at
Faresani Primary School, with some Grade 1s clinging to their parents.

At the nearby Boitumelo Day Care Centre, 5-year-old Oratile
Makgatho was wearing a school uniform for the first time, even though he will
only be starting "big school" next year. At this day care centre,
pupils in Grade R start wearing school uniforms in preparation for the years to
come.

Oratile stared at his shiny new school shoes as his mother,
Anna Makgato chatted about the importance of quality education.

In Pretoria central, lots of parents were leading their
children to school.

Difficult for parents

Before 07:00, Thembani Mazwai walked briskly along Visagie
street, clutching his son Given's left hand.

The pair were heading to Hamilton school, where Given was
beginning Grade 1.

"I have to make sure he is in class before I go to
work. I am sure it's a difficult period for most parents as we struggle to
balance time," said Mazwai.

Across town, at Founders Schools, scores of parents were
queuing at the reception, hoping to secure places for their children.

Some in the queue said they were unsure whether they would
secure the places, as the school term had already commenced.

Pascal Mathebula said she had to find place for her son,
Irvin who had just joined her from Limpopo.

Moments later, the pupils gathered for assembly and were
addressed by one of the staff members, Hospa Sibanda.

"You should not steal others' things. Always make use
of your stuff, don't take from others. You will have to learn to be quiet in
classes," he said to the attentive pupils.

After prayers, the different grades followed their teachers
towards classrooms.

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